DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / April 18, 2000

LUTCHER – Elvis Cavalier is gathering pencils. Showing his performers inthe St. James Theater Program how easy it is to break one pencil, but nota whole group, Cavalier demonstrated what the students could do as a team. On a broader scale, Cavalier is doing the same thing, picking up St.James schools, students, teachers, and citizens from both sides of the river and constructing one huge unbreakable collection of pencils.

Cavalier, the director of student programs for St. James Parish, was bornand raised on a sugarcane farm in Ascension Parish. “My whole goal was toget off that farm. Now I’ve got more farm in me that anything else,” saidCavalier. Everything he does, the values and morals he tries to instillthrough his programs, he attributes to the lessons he has learned on the farm.

He graduated from Nicholls State University and received a masters of education degree there three years ago. He was educating adults inbusiness, when he realized that he wanted to give back what he had learned to the children. He started teaching as a science and social studiesteacher at Labadieville Middle School. He’s also worked as the Bayou Campsummer camp director and the Assumption Talent Machineprogram director, along with other programs.

As an educator, Cavalier has been honored by everyone from the local to national organizations. His programs have received national recognitionand he is a published writer. This is the talent St. James was able to snagwhen it needed a director of student programs and so far their choice has paid off for the school system 10-fold.

For Cavalier it was the job he was looking for.

“I don’t know any other job where I’d get paid for what I love,” said Cavalier. “My boss, Mary Edwards, asks ‘Are you happy?’ Yeah, I’m happy,”he added with a grin from ear to ear.

St. James Parish has seen the effects of Cavalier’s presence already in his programs. Over the school year, Making the Connection gave students theopportunity look into the real world by introducing them to industry and business representatives. The students visited Evergreen Plantation, St.James Bank, Motiva, St. James Hospital and American Iron Reduction,learning what applications their school work had in the world around them.

In October, Cavalier proposed the organization of the St. James TheaterProgram. The program produced “One Step From the Edge,” staging a widerange of events, past present and future, that students must contend with to succeed in the world around them. Cavalier was appalled when someadults read the script which he had wrote and thought some of the subjects were rather risque. “These are things that kids need to know,” hesaid. The play covered issues of war, fallen heros, racial segregation andneed for unity, suicide and other such themes.

The show took 328 students on and off stage, as well as a full contingent of adults to coordinate and choreograph the production. “Thechoreographers need most of the credit. They worked after school with thestudents, made sure everyone went on stage with all their props. They didso much”, said Cavalier.

“There were no weak links,” he added.

The show came off without a hitch, amazing since many of the kids were in elementary school and had numerous lines. That was in part to hisstrict attitude.Hhe holds no qualms about being tough to get the studentsto work at their best. That paid off as well. One student told him after theshow, “I’m glad you fussed us. It made us better,” she commented.”I’ve never received the support and accolades and encouragement that I have received from St. James students and parents. St. James is the firstto give such a great response”, Cavalier said.

This summer the St. James Parish River Camp 2000 will bring not onlystudents together to learn about the environment, but also to teach.

Earlier this year students trained in Mississippi to work as camp counselors. They will be paid to help out with the younger studentsattending the camp. “This has allowed students from the West and Eastbanks to make a little money while having fun,” said Cavalier.

This program develops responsibility showing that whether you are from the East bank or West bank, black or white or rich or poor, every one has the same needs, added Cavalier.

The River Camp 2000 will address the environment extensively. This runsalong with much of Cavalier’s programs and his own way of life.

“The environment is a legacy that my parents left behind, the concern for the land,” said Cavalier. They taught him to that what one does to thewater and the land, one does to oneself. “If you take care of the land itwill take care of you,” he added.

The environment is a main concern that the kids will have to face in the 21st century, said Cavalier. “If you have no world, what else is thedifference.”Three outstanding programs have come from Cavalier this year, but he doesn’t feel the need to look back. The final performance of “One StepFrom the Edge” closed Wednesday night and though he’s still receiving compliments, Cavalier has set it behind him and is starting on the next one. “I try not to think about all I’ve done. I’m looking forward to the nextproject. I’ve spent this morning getting the River Camp together,” saidCavalier. You must focus on what you can do, not what you’ve done, hefeels. “I enjoy the climb more than getting there,” he explained.Superintendent Edward Cancienne is certainly impressed with Cavalier’s work. “With three major programs accomplished, the River Camp willcertainly continue to unify all behind the children,” Cancienne said. “Hehas literally led us to the banks of the Mississippi and forced us to see ourselves through the reflection,” he added.

Cancienne finds that Cavalier is lifting the parish to new unprecedented heights. With the people and programs such as have come into being in thelast year, Cancienne sees the system as soon being looked to by all.

Cavalier has begun making that vision a reality.

The idea of the St. James School system has now been visually displayedas a whole and solid entity. East bank and west bank, black and white, richand poor children have stood side by side and all cried out in one voice. Noone can break so many pencils.

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